In September 2014, I met my gastroenterologist for the first time and explained to her the terrible stomach issues I was dealing with, including 30+ bowel movements per day, bloody stools, and extreme weakness. One of the very first things she did was schedule me for a colonoscopy and endoscopy.
This post shares what my first colonoscopy experience was like and the three things I learned that I think you should know before having your first scope!
What colonoscopies detect
An endoscopy is the same idea as a colonoscopy, but they stick the camera down your esophagus instead of up your bum. These scopes are oftentimes one of the very first steps that gastroenterologists take when helping patients diagnose unidentifiable intestinal issues.
Specifically, colonoscopies and endoscopies allow the gastroenterologist to:
- examine the level of inflammation in your intestines,
- identify any ulcers, and
- gauge how far your disease travels in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
This last aspect is key because knowing what parts of your body are affected differentiates ulcerative colitis from Crohn’s Disease: ulcerative colitis affects only your colon (large intestine) but Crohn’s Disease can affect any part of your GI tract—anywhere from the mouth to the anus.
Knowing what inflammatory bowel disease you have is crucial to figuring out what medication(s) to take, if surgery should be considered, and how to overall best manage your condition.
3 Tips to Make the Most Out of Your Colonoscopy Prep
I know that a colonoscopy might sound intimidating, but I believe that getting a camera maneuvered up my bum is less frightening than going undiagnosed. In fact, these scopes themselves are not bad at all because you’re under anesthesia the entire time.
Here’s a little overview of my colonoscopy prep weekend and three very important lessons I learned along the way.
1. Plan ahead and claim a bathroom for yourself
The two nights prior to my September colonoscopy and endoscopy, I had to cleanse my bowels with a nasty laxative. The one I was instructed to take was a clear, lemon-flavored Magnesium Citrate, which I purchased for 99¢ each at Target in the aisle by the pharmacy.
Let me just say, this unnaturally strong elixir is insane; it’s a cleanse so thorough that it literally feels like you’re urinating out of your backside. If possible, I’d recommend spending the night someplace where you can reserve the bathroom for yourself the whole night.
If you live alone, great, you’re all set! But if you live with roommates, your parents, or a partner, I highly recommend communicating that you’ll need full access to the bathroom throughout the night, likely at a moment’s notice. This can help prevent confusion and accidents.
2. Prep your kitchen with a variety of clear liquids ahead of time
Bowel preps will require you to eat a clear liquid diet. The day before my colonoscopy was my liquid diet day. Foods on the “okay to eat” list included light-colored gelatin, apple juice, grape juice, Gatorade, and popsicles; no red, blue, or purple colors allowed! Additional foods included broth, tea, and, of course, water.
And my required beverage to complement this menu was—you guessed it!—another lemon laxative. (Hello toilet, my old friend).
The combination of the laxative and the clear liquid diet made me feel like my guts were shedding my entire stomach lining. Let’s just say I definitely had an intimate weekend getaway with the toilet.
With the stomach pain, raw bottom, and urgency, the last thing you want to worry about is running out of approved foods! Pre-stock your kitchen with plenty of these foods ahead of time.
I recommend including a variety of sweet and salty liquids so, in your tired and possibly dehydrated state, you can choose what you feel like consuming throughout the day.
3. Take advantage of everything on your clear liquid menu
The day of my colonoscopy was the toughest part for me since I wasn’t even allowed to drink water! At this point, I realized I did not take full advantage of all the items on my clear-liquid diet. I only really drank broth and water when I could have given myself much-needed energy from juices, gelatin, and Gatorade!
With so much liquid leaving my body, the last thing I wanted to do was fill up with more bland liquids, so I ended up not eating much at all. I paid for this because I became extremely lethargic and had a massive dehydration headache.
Learn from my mistake and drink ALL the liquids on the list your doctor gives you throughout the day; this will help keep up your energy and hydration levels for as long as possible.
My Colonoscopy Morning
After such an unforgettable weekend, I was more than ready for my Monday morning colonoscopy. I’m grateful my appointment was early because I wasn’t allowed to drink anything—including water!—the morning of the colonoscopy. My parents drove me—dazed, dehydrated, and completely-out-of-energy— to the hospital.
Needless to say, that weekend had quite literally taken a lot out of me 😛
But with the worst behind me, I sat in the waiting room for a few hours and rested until it was my turn to be probed. I was SO STOKED for them to call my name so they could hook me up to the IV and flood my veins with saline. This is one of the first things they do so you can hydrate up without water entering your stomach. Within minutes, my headache disappeared and my energy level went up a notch or two.
Before I knew it, they were pumping the anesthetic into my veins.
And as soon as the scope had begun, it was over. The anesthesia was like a time-warp. When I awoke, I hardly believed the nurse when she said the procedure was complete.
They wheeled me out to the car in a wheelchair, and my parents drove me home—but not before stopping for Chick-fil-A. Finally full and hydrated, I carried out the rest of my day like normal. After you shake off the anesthesia’s grogginess, you’re back at it pretty quickly!
Just keep in mind that when preparing your colonoscopy to follow your doctor’s instructions; each doctor’s orders are slightly different, and your preparation might look different from mine.
Questions? Feel Free to Contact Me
Do you have your first colonoscopy coming up? I’m here to support you! I know it can sound intimidating, but I promise, if you can make it through the prep weekend (and I know you can!) the scope itself will be so easy!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out here, send me an email at jenna@thecomicalcolon.com, or DM me on Instagram. You got this!
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